Externally coupled loudspeaker assembly with flexible port

ABSTRACT

A loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle includes a loudspeaker having a first side and an opposed second side, wherein the loudspeaker is configured to generate an acoustical signal having a front wave directed into an interior of the vehicle and a rear wave directed toward an exterior of the vehicle. The loudspeaker assembly further includes a coupler disposed on the second side of the loudspeaker, the coupler including an inlet portion for receiving the loudspeaker and an outlet portion. A flexible port is removably connectable to the coupler, the flexible port including an inlet end arranged to be connected to the outlet portion of the coupler, an outlet end arranged to be connected to an opening in an exterior body panel, and an elongated body extending between the inlet end and the outlet end, the flexible port configured to transmit the rear wave to the exterior of the vehicle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to a loudspeaker assembly with a flexible port for anexternally coupled loudspeaker in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Automotive audio systems typically include several loudspeakerspositioned in various locations within the interior of a vehicle, suchas the passenger compartment or the trunk. Typical loudspeaker positionsmay include door panels or interior trim panels. Low-frequencyloudspeakers, also known as woofers or subwoofers, are often located inthe trunk, the rear panel shelf, under the rear seats, the chassis or inother frame elements of a vehicle.

In an externally coupled subwoofer (ECS), the loudspeaker housing may beomitted because the front and the back side of the loudspeaker areisolated from each other by a vehicle panel or frame element. Inacoustical terms, an ECS configuration is referred to as an “infinitebaffle”, allowing optimized low frequency extension and maximizedbandwidth, while simultaneously eliminating the requirement for a largesealed or vented-box subwoofer enclosure. This approach provides a verycompact and weight efficient arrangement for audio inside the vehiclewithout sacrificing acoustical performance.

Typical ECS configurations include a metal or plastic frame whichsupports the loudspeaker, and a rear enclosure or acoustic coupler whichconnects to the frame and vents audio waves from the rear of theloudspeaker to the outside of the vehicle. Current implementationsinvolve rigid plastic conduits for interfacing with an exterior vehiclebody panel, where the rigid conduits are either molded as part of theacoustic coupler or assembled to the coupler by methods such as welding.

SUMMARY

In one or more embodiments, a loudspeaker assembly for a vehicleincludes a loudspeaker having a first side and an opposed second side,wherein the loudspeaker is configured to generate an acoustical signalhaving a front wave directed into an interior of the vehicle and a rearwave directed toward an exterior of the vehicle. The loudspeakerassembly further includes a coupler disposed on the second side of theloudspeaker, the coupler including an inlet portion for receiving theloudspeaker and an outlet portion. A flexible port is removablyconnectable to the coupler, the flexible port including an inlet endarranged to be connected to the outlet portion of the coupler, an outletend arranged to be connected to an opening in an exterior body panel,and an elongated body extending between the inlet end and the outletend, the flexible port configured to transmit the rear wave to theexterior of the vehicle.

In one or more embodiments, the flexible port is compressible andexpandible, and may have a corrugated configuration. The outlet portionof the coupler and the inlet end of the flexible port may each have acircular cross-section, and the outlet portion of the coupler and theloudspeaker may be arranged along a common axis. In one or moreembodiments, one of the outlet portion of the coupler and the inlet endof the flexible port includes a plurality of spaced detents and theother includes a plurality of spaced apertures for receiving theplurality of spaced detents for removably attaching the flexible port tothe coupler. The outlet end of the flexible port may include a flangespaced from a flexible tab, wherein the exterior body panel is receivedbetween the flange and the flexible tab to secure the flexible port tothe exterior body panel. In one or more embodiments, the loudspeakerassembly may include a gasket arranged to be disposed between the outletend of the flexible port and the exterior body panel, and may include ascreen member arranged to be received on the outlet end of the flexibleport.

In one or more embodiments, an externally coupled loudspeaker assemblyfor a vehicle includes a subwoofer mounted in an opening in an interiorbody panel and having a first side disposed toward an interior of thevehicle and an opposed second side, wherein subwoofer is configured togenerate an acoustical signal having a front wave directed into theinterior of the vehicle and a rear wave directed toward an exterior ofthe vehicle. A coupler is disposed on the second side of the subwoofer,the coupler including an inlet portion for receiving the subwoofer andan outlet portion, wherein the outlet portion of the coupler and thesubwoofer are arranged along a common axis. A flexible port is removablyconnectable to the coupler, the flexible port including an inlet endarranged to be connected to the outlet portion of the coupler, an outletend arranged to be connected to an opening in an exterior body panel,and an elongated body extending between the inlet end and the outletend, wherein the flexible port is compressible and expandible and isconfigured to transmit the rear wave to the exterior of the vehicle.

In one or more embodiments, a method of installing a loudspeakerassembly in a vehicle includes providing a loudspeaker assembly, theloudspeaker assembly including a loudspeaker configured to generate anacoustical signal having a front wave directed into an interior of thevehicle and a rear wave directed toward an exterior of the vehicle, acoupler having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, and a flexibleport having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an elongated body extendingtherebetween. The method further includes coupling the loudspeaker tothe inlet portion of the coupler, removably connecting the inlet end ofthe flexible port to the outlet portion of the coupler, and removablyconnecting the outlet end of the flexible port to an opening in anexterior body panel to transmit the rear wave to the exterior of thevehicle.

In one or more embodiments, the inlet end of the flexible port may beconnected along a first axis and the outlet end of the flexible port maybe connected along a second axis offset from the first axis. Theflexible port may have a corrugated configuration which is compressibleand expandible during installation. The method may further includemounting the loudspeaker in an opening in an interior body panel of thevehicle, disposing a screen member on the outlet end of the flexibleport, and disposing a gasket between the outlet end of the flexible portand the exterior body panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an externally coupled loudspeakermounted in a baffle to generate a front sound wave into the interior ofa vehicle and a rear sound wave to the exterior of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle showing a loudspeakerassembly according to one or more embodiments including a coupler and aflexible port connecting a second side of the loudspeaker to theexterior of the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coupler with an attached flexible portaccording to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the coupler and flexible port of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler and attached flexibleport of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an exemplary installedconfiguration of a coupler and flexible port according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary location of a couplerand port inlet end along a first axis with respect to a second axis of aport outlet end and an exterior body panel opening according to one ormore embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary location of acoupler and port inlet end and exterior body panel opening according toone or more embodiments;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an attachment between thecoupler and the flexible port according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the attached secured coupler andflexible port of FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of an attachment between theflexible port and a screen member according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the attached flexible port andscreen member of FIG. 11 ; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible port secured to anexternal vehicle panel and incorporating a gasket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1 , a schematic illustration of a vehicle 100with a loudspeaker 102 mounted therein is shown. In this illustration,the loudspeaker 102 is arranged in a baffle 104, such as a vehicle bodypanel, which forms a barrier between the vehicle interior 106 and thevehicle exterior 108. The baffle 104 may include an opening or cavity inwhich the loudspeaker 102 is arranged. In one or more embodiments, theloudspeaker 102 may be a subwoofer or a woofer and may be part of anautomotive audio system. It is understood that an automotive audiosystem may comprise several loudspeakers, although only one loudspeaker102 is exemplarily illustrated herein.

Loudspeakers, such as subwoofers or woofers, that provide low-frequencysound require a large enclosure volume. In general, subwoofers generallyemit sound between 20 Hz and 200 Hz, while traditional woofers generallyemit sound between 40 Hz and 400 Hz. If the loudspeaker 102 ispositioned in the frame or chassis of the vehicle 100 between thevehicle interior 106 and the vehicle exterior 108, an otherwisenecessary loudspeaker housing may be omitted.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary mounting position of a loudspeakerassembly 110 in a vehicle 100, such as in the trunk adjacent a rearquarter panel. While mounting of the loudspeaker assembly 110 is shownand described herein with respect to an automobile, it is understoodthat implementation of the loudspeaker assembly 110 in other types ofvehicles is also fully contemplated.

The loudspeaker assembly 110 includes a loudspeaker 102 mounted in thevehicle 100, the loudspeaker 102 having a first side 112 facing thevehicle interior 106 and an opposed second side 114. The loudspeaker 102is configured to generate an acoustical signal having a front wave 116(FIG. 1 ) directed into the interior 106 of the vehicle 100 and a rearwave 118 (FIG. 1 ) directed away from the interior 106 of the vehicle100 and toward the exterior 108 of the vehicle 100. The loudspeaker 102includes a diaphragm or cone 120 for generating the front wave 116 andrear wave 118, wherein the cone 120 which may be formed of paper, papercomposites/laminates, plastic such as polypropylene ormineral/fiber-filled polypropylene, or other suitable materials. Aninterior speaker grill 122 may cover the cone 120 at the first side 112of the loudspeaker 102 and may be visible from the vehicle interior 106.The loudspeaker 102 may be mounted in a baffle, such as within anopening 124 in an interior body panel 126.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2 and also to FIGS. 3-6 , theloudspeaker assembly 110 disclosed herein further includes a coupler 128disposed on the second side 114 of the loudspeaker 102 and a flexibleport 130 arranged to be attached to the coupler 128 and to extend towardthe vehicle exterior 108. The coupler 128 and the flexible port 130 arein fluid communication with the vehicle exterior 108 and are arranged totransmit the rear wave 118 to the vehicle exterior 108 and externalenvironment. The coupler 128 includes an inlet portion 132 disposedadjacent the second side 114 of the loudspeaker 102 and an outletportion 134 arranged to be connected to the flexible port 130. Thecoupler 128 can be constructed from any suitable material, such as aplastic or metallic material.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a loudspeaker assembly 110 with aloudspeaker 102 attached to the inlet portion 132 of the coupler 128,wherein the inlet portion 132 may be fastened to the loudspeaker 102 orintegrally formed therewith, for example. The inlet portion 132 may havea generally oval or circular configuration to correspond with aconfiguration of the loudspeaker 102, but other shapes are alsocontemplated. In one or more embodiments, the outlet portion 134 of thecoupler 128 may have a circular cross-section. The coupler 128 mayinclude one or more mounting arms 136 extending therefrom for fasteningthe coupler 128 to the interior body panel 126 or a frame element of thevehicle 100.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-6 , the flexible port 130 has an elongatedbody 138 with an inlet end 140 arranged to be attached to the coupleroutlet portion 134 and an outlet end 142 arranged to be attached to anopening 144 in an exterior body panel 146 of the vehicle 100 that is influid communication with the atmosphere. The opening 144 in the exteriorbody panel 146 may be provided in the rear quarter panel or wheel wellof the vehicle 100, for example, or another suitable location. In analternative embodiment, the opening 144 may be concealed or not easilyvisible from outside the vehicle 100, instead hidden under a body trimpanel or other sheet metal while still in fluid communication with theambient environment.

In one or more embodiments, the inlet end 140 and the outlet end 142 ofthe flexible port 130 may each have a smaller diameter than theelongated body 138. The flexible port 130 may have a generally circularcross-section as shown but is not limited to this configuration, and thecross-sectional area of the flexible port 130 may be constant orvariable along its length. A cross-sectional area of the inlet end 140may be larger than a cross-sectional area of the coupler outlet portion134, so that the coupler outlet portion 134 may be at least partiallyreceived in the inlet end 140 as described below, but is not limited tothis arrangement.

The flexible port 130 is constructed to be bendable, expandable, andcompressible. In one or more embodiments, the flexible port 130,specifically the elongated body 138, may have a corrugated configurationand may include a single material layer or a plurality of layers. Theflexible port 130 may be constructed from any suitable material such as,but not limited to, EPDM (ethylene propylene), neoprene, nitrile,silicone, or fluorocarbon. Optionally, one or more support brackets (notshown) could be provided within the internal space 148 between theinterior body panel 126 and the exterior body panel 146 to support theflexible port 130 along its length, if desired.

The flexible port 130 may be easily and securely connected to thecoupler 128, such as via press fit or slip on engagement. As best shownin FIGS. 9 and 10 , the coupler outlet portion 134 may include aplurality of spaced detents 150 on an outer surface thereof.Correspondingly, the inlet end 140 of the flexible port 130 may includea plurality of spaced apertures 152 for receiving the detents 150 whenthe inlet end 140 is attached to and received on the coupler outletportion 134. Of course, the inlet end 140 could alternatively includedetents, such as on an inner surface thereof, and the coupler outletportion 134 could include apertures for coupling the flexible port 130to the coupler 128. In other embodiments, the inlet end 140 could beattached to the coupler outlet portion 134 via adhesives, fasteners,welding, or other means, or the flexible port 130 could be formed as asingle piece with the coupler 128.

When the second side 114 of the loudspeaker 102 is in fluidcommunication with the atmosphere on the exterior 108 of the vehicle 100via the flexible port 130, the loudspeaker 102 is considered to have aninfinite baffle. Undesirable resonances in the loudspeaker 102 may bereduced because sound waves emitted from the second side 114 of theloudspeaker 102 are prevented from entering the vehicle interior 106 andthus do not interfere with sound waves emitted from the first side 112of the loudspeaker 102. Additionally, another benefit of the openenvironment, or infinite baffle, is that strain in the cone 120 isreduced because the second side 114 of the loudspeaker 102 vents to theoutside atmosphere. As a result, the loudspeaker 102 may produce ahigher sound pressure level (SPL) at low frequency ranges in the vehicleinterior 106.

The dimensions of the coupler 128 and the flexible port 130 may beselected to be proportional to the size and parameters of theloudspeaker 102. In one or more embodiments, it is desirable for thevolume of the coupler 128 and the flexible port 130 to be minimized, thecross-sectional area of the coupler 128 and the flexible port 130 to bemaximized, and the length of the coupler 128 and the flexible port 130(from the second side 114 of the loudspeaker 102 to the exterior bodypanel 146) to be minimized. These parameters may be selected toreinforce the idealized infinite baffle condition, which would be acoupler 128 and flexible port 130 of zero volume, zero length and thesame cross-sectional area as the cone 120 of the loudspeaker 102. In oneor more embodiments, the volume and the length of the flexible port 130may be manipulated to adjust and control the tuning frequency of theloudspeaker assembly 110.

While particular configurations of the coupler 128 and the flexible port130 are shown and described herein, it is understood that the coupler128 and the flexible port 130 are not limited to these configurations,and that other geometries, lengths, and areas of these components arecontemplated and may be selected to optimize transmission of theacoustical signal to the interior 106 of a specific vehicle 100.

In current ECS implementations, especially when the coupler and portcomponents are rigid and integrally molded together, an axis of thecoupler outlet portion 134 often must be offset from an axis of theloudspeaker 102 and its motor 154 (FIG. 5 ) in order for the rigidcoupler and port to be capable of spanning the distance and trajectorybetween the opening 124 in the interior body panel 126 and the opening144 in the exterior body panel 146, as well as any obstructions in theinternal space 148 between the interior and exterior body panels 126,146. In addition, the outlet portion axis may be located at differentlocations and angles with respect to the loudspeaker or motor axis fordifferent programs based on vehicle level packaging. Without axisalignment, an imbalance of the forces acting on the cone 120 can occurdue to unequal air pressure during operation of the loudspeaker 102,which can cause the cone 120 to tilt and rock instead of movingperpendicular to the motor axis, in turn causing rubbing of the voicecoil against the stationary parts of the motor 154 and generatingextraneous noise.

For optimum acoustic performance, it is preferable for the outletportion 134 and the loudspeaker 102 and its motor 154 to be alignedalong a common axis 156 such that the flexible port 130 will also bealigned along the common axis 156, as is depicted in FIG. 5 for thecoupler 128 and flexible port 130 disclosed herein. The flexible port130 can accommodate any offset, angle, or obstacles between the coupler128 and the opening 144 in the exterior body panel 146, such that thecoupler outlet portion 134 can always be aligned with the motor 154along the common axis 156, regardless of speaker type. Accordingly, allcouplers 128 may have a standard location of the outlet portion 134 (andconnection of the flexible port 130) which are coaxial with the motor154.

Depending upon the mounting location within the vehicle 100, it may bedesirable to have the opening 124 in the interior body panel 126positioned in a location that is not vertically and/or horizontallyaligned with a location of the opening 144 in the exterior body panel146. With reference to FIGS. 6-8 , the flexible port 130 disclosedherein allows an offset or angle between the interior body panel opening124 and the exterior body panel opening 144. As shown, the inlet end 140of the flexible port 130 may be arranged along a first axis 160 (e.g.,the common axis 156) and the outlet end 142 of the flexible port 130 maybe arranged along a second axis 162, wherein the second axis 162 isoffset from the first axis 160.

The flexible port 130 disclosed herein can be configured to have astandard size and shape of the elongated body 138, the inlet end 140,and the outlet end 142. Furthermore, the flexible port 130 can beutilized for different distances between the interior body panel 126 andthe exterior body panel 146 as well as different offsets between thefirst axis 160 and the second axis 162 of the of the openings 124, 144,and thus is compatible with multiple vehicle programs. As such, astandard part can be created instead of having to customize a differentflexible port 130 for each different speaker and/or vehicle.

The modularity of the flexible port 130 also allows the placement of theinterior body panel opening 124 and the exterior body panel opening 144to be optimized. The customer (OEM) will have requirements for thedesired placement of the openings 124, 144, where the placement for eachopening 124, 144 may not align along the same axis as described above.Since the flexible port 130 disclosed herein can accommodate the offsetplacement of the openings 124, 144, the customer is provided with morefreedom to place the openings 124, 144 with both function and aestheticsin mind.

In current ECS coupler and port configurations where these parts areinjection molded as a unitary structure, undercut port shapes such asthe examples illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 would not be possible, asthese shapes would cause a die lock condition or require assistance toremove the part from the mold. The flexible port 130 disclosed hereinadvantageously can form complex curved configurations, and thus is moreversatile than previous rigid molded parts.

In order to ensure that water from the outside environment does notenter the vehicle interior 106, it is desired that the interface betweenthe outlet end 142 of the flexible port 130 and the exterior body panel146 be water tight. As shown in FIG. 13 , the outlet end 142 may includea flange 164 spaced from a flexible tab 166. In one or more embodiments,the outlet end 142 may be mounted to the exterior body panel 146 byinserting the outlet end 142 through the exterior body panel opening 144from the internal space 148 between the interior and exterior bodypanels 126, 146, such that the flexible tab 166 moves past the exteriorbody panel 146 and captures the exterior body panel 146 between the tab166 and the flange 164. An annular gasket 168 may be coupled to anunderside of the flange 164, may be coupled to an inner surface 170 ofthe exterior body panel 146, or otherwise inserted between the flange164 and the inner surface 170 of the exterior body panel 146. The gasket168 may be constructed, for example, from a PVC foam material or othersuitable material which can provide a water tight seal with the exteriorbody panel 146 as well as be capable of compression.

In prior ECS systems with rigid parts, dimensional variations in thevehicle due to tolerance stack up of the components could not be easilyaccommodated and might result in non-uniform gasket compression,potential water leak concerns due to a deficiency of the seal providedby the gasket, and/or potential no-build conditions. The flexible port130 disclosed herein will forgive such component dimensional variations,providing a uniform and standard compression of the gasket 168regardless of vehicle tolerances.

The flexible port 130 allows for easier assembly of components of theloudspeaker assembly 110 as compared with current ECS systems in whichcomponents are integrally formed or welded together. Because theflexible port 130 is a separate component from the coupler 128 and canbend, twist, expand and compress, installation is greatly facilitated.In one or more embodiments, the outlet end 142 of the flexible port 130may first be mounted to the exterior body panel 146, and subsequentlythe inlet end 140 of the flexible port 130 may be mounted to the coupler128, such as by extending the inlet end 140 through the opening 124 inthe interior body panel 126, after which the loudspeaker 102 (andcoupler 128) can be mounted to the interior body panel 126. Thissequence has the advantage of eliminating the need to install componentsin the confined internal space 148 between the interior body panel 126and the exterior body panel 146, and is made possible by the flexiblenature of the port 130. For example, during the installation process,the flexible port 130 can be stretched or expanded to attach the port130 between the coupler 128 and the exterior body panel 146, and wheninstallation is complete the flexible port 130 can compress or return toa resting length.

The outlet end 142 of the flexible port 130 may be arranged to receive ascreen member 172, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 . The screen member 172may be generally circular and includes a mesh material 174 (metal oranother suitable material) surrounded by an outer rim 176. The screenmember 172 is sized to be received on the outlet end 142 of the flexibleport 130, where the outlet end 142 includes a plurality of spaceddetents 178 on an outer surface thereof. Correspondingly, the outer rim176 of the screen member 172 may include a plurality of spaced apertures180 for receiving the detents 178 when the screen member 172 is attachedto the outlet end 142. Of course, the screen member 172 couldalternatively include detents 178, such as on an inner surface thereof,and the outlet end 142 of the flexible port 130 could include apertures180 for coupling the screen member 172 to the outlet end 142, or thescreen member 172 and the outlet end 142 could be coupled by othermeans. Advantageously, the screen member 172 can be assembled to theoutlet end 142 of the flexible port 130 without requiring insert moldingor heat staking.

The screen member 172 may function as an exterior grill, and/or a noise,vibration and harshness (NVH) (acoustic resistive) material, and/or aweather shielding material, as well as for preventing animals (e.g.,rodents) from nesting inside the flexible port 130 or coupler 128. In anNVH capacity, the screen member 172 may provide noise isolation from theoutside atmosphere while allowing fluid communication between theloudspeaker 102 and the outside environment, reducing unwanted resonanceand minimizing or preventing outside noise from entering the vehicle100. In a weather shielding capacity, the screen member 172 can alsoprotect the second side 114 of the loudspeaker 102 from being exposed toenvironmental weathering, which can present a problem during extremeconditions such as water, snow, ice, heat, or particulates (mud, dirt,rocks). Separate NVH and/or weather shielding materials integrated withor separate from the screen member 172 are also contemplated. With useof a standard-sized flexible port 130 disclosed herein for differentloudspeakers 102 and vehicles 100 as described above, both the screenmember 172 and the gasket 168 may also be standardized for allloudspeaker assemblies 110.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather,the words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle, comprising:a loudspeaker having a first side and an opposed second side, whereinthe loudspeaker is configured to generate an acoustical signal having afront wave directed into an interior of the vehicle and a rear wavedirected toward an exterior of the vehicle; a coupler disposed on thesecond side of the loudspeaker, the coupler including an inlet portionfor receiving the loudspeaker and an outlet portion; and a flexible portremovably connectable to the coupler, the flexible port including aninlet end arranged to be connected to the outlet portion of the coupler,an outlet end arranged to be connected to an opening in an exterior bodypanel, and an elongated body extending between the inlet end and theoutlet end, the flexible port configured to transmit the rear wave tothe exterior of the vehicle, wherein one of the outlet portion of thecoupler and the inlet end of the flexible port includes a plurality ofspaced detents and the other includes a plurality of spaced aperturesfor receiving the plurality of spaced detents for removably attachingthe flexible port to the coupler.
 2. The loudspeaker assembly of claim1, wherein the flexible port is compressible and expandible.
 3. Theloudspeaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible port has acorrugated configuration.
 4. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 1,wherein the outlet portion of the coupler and the inlet end of theflexible port each have a circular cross-section.
 5. The loudspeakerassembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet portion of the coupler and theloudspeaker are arranged along a common axis.
 6. The loudspeakerassembly of claim 1, further comprising a gasket arranged to be disposedbetween the outlet end of the flexible port and the exterior body panel.7. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 1, further comprising a screenmember arranged to be received on the outlet end of the flexible port.8. A loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a loudspeakerhaving a first side and an opposed second side, wherein the loudspeakeris configured to generate an acoustical signal having a front wavedirected into an interior of the vehicle and a rear wave directed towardan exterior of the vehicle; a coupler disposed on the second side of theloudspeaker, the coupler including an inlet portion for receiving theloudspeaker and an outlet portion; and a flexible port removablyconnectable to the coupler, the flexible port including an inlet endarranged to be connected to the outlet portion of the coupler, an outletend arranged to be connected to an opening in an exterior body panel,and an elongated body extending between the inlet end and the outletend, the flexible port configured to transmit the rear wave to theexterior of the vehicle, wherein the outlet end of the flexible portincludes a flange spaced from a flexible tab, wherein the exterior bodypanel is received between the flange and the flexible tab to secure theflexible port to the exterior body panel.
 9. The loudspeaker assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the flexible port has a corrugated configuration. 10.The loudspeaker assembly of claim 8, wherein the outlet portion of thecoupler and the inlet end of the flexible port each have a circularcross-section.
 11. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 8, furthercomprising a gasket arranged to be disposed between the outlet end ofthe flexible port and the exterior body panel.
 12. The loudspeakerassembly of claim 8, further comprising a screen member arranged to bereceived on the outlet end of the flexible port.
 13. The loudspeakerassembly of claim 8, wherein the flexible port is compressible andexpandible.
 14. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 8, wherein the outletportion of the coupler and the loudspeaker are arranged along a commonaxis.
 15. A method of installing a loudspeaker assembly in a vehicle,the method comprising: providing a loudspeaker assembly, the loudspeakerassembly including a loudspeaker configured to generate an acousticalsignal having a front wave directed into an interior of the vehicle anda rear wave directed toward an exterior of the vehicle, a coupler havingan inlet portion and an outlet portion, and a flexible port having aninlet end, an outlet end, and an elongated body extending therebetween,wherein one of the outlet portion of the coupler and the inlet end ofthe flexible port includes a plurality of spaced detents and the otherincludes a plurality of spaced apertures for receiving the plurality ofspaced detents; coupling the loudspeaker to the inlet portion of thecoupler; removably connecting the inlet end of the flexible port to theoutlet portion of the coupler via the detents and the apertures; andremovably connecting the outlet end of the flexible port to an openingin an exterior body panel to transmit the rear wave to the exterior ofthe vehicle.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inlet end of theflexible port is connected along a first axis and the outlet end of theflexible port is connected along a second axis offset from the firstaxis.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the flexible port has acorrugated configuration which is compressible and expandible duringinstallation.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising mountingthe loudspeaker in an opening in an interior body panel of the vehicle,disposing a screen member on the outlet end of the flexible port, anddisposing a gasket between the outlet end of the flexible port and theexterior body panel.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the outlet endof the flexible port includes a flange spaced from a flexible tab, andremovably connecting the outlet end includes receiving the exterior bodypanel between the flange and the flexible tab.